Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall leans on a water station during a break at NFL football training camp in Latrobe, Pa., Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Mendenhall is on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from a knee injury incurred last season.

Then there are players who precisely fit the Broncos’ needs. The Broncos would like a larger back to possibly replace Willis McGahee, who is 31 and coming off a season-ending leg injury, while complementing the smaller Knowshon Moreno and Ronnie Hillman.

Mendenhall is a 225-pound tailback who has fewer NFL carries in five seasons (864) than draft prospect Montee Ball had in four seasons at Wisconsin (924).

And so the Broncos have put Mendenhall on their free-agent wish list. They also have interest in Arizona Cardinals cornerback Greg Toler.

The level of the Broncos’ interest in those players is difficult to gauge. Mendenhall is not the only running back on the Broncos’ free-agent wish list and Toler is not the only cornerback.

But the Broncos hope to pick up a starting right cornerback and possibly a running back as they prepare for the opening of free agency Tuesday.

Meanwhile, they appear to be closing in on re-signing special-teams standout David Bruton while continuing discussions with defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson on a new contract.

But the cost-cutting contract talks with defensive end Elvis Dumervil seem to have encountered a slight problem — talk. There has been no communication between the sides since Dumervil’s agent, Marty Magid, sent in his restructuring proposal Friday.

“Elvis has been working out. He’s healthy, he feels great,” Magid said. “He wants to stay with the Broncos. Right now, we’re waiting to hear back from them.”

Dumervil and the Broncos are midway through a six-year, $61.5 million contract extension negotiated by former Denver coach Josh McDaniels after Dumervil led the NFL with 17 sacks in 2009. The Broncos paid the Louisville product $3.168 million in 2010 (a season he missed because of a torn pectoral injury suffered in training camp), $14 million in 2011 (when he had 9½ sacks) and $14 million in 2012 (11 sacks).

Dumervil, 29, is scheduled to make $12 million this season. That salary becomes guaranteed if he is still on the team Saturday. The Broncos have asked Dumervil to take a pay cut. He also is scheduled to make $10 million in 2014 and $8 million in 2015.

With contract talks seemingly at an impasse, the chances increase that Dumervil will be playing elsewhere in the NFL in 2013. Dumervil would like a resolution by 2 p.m. MDT on Tuesday, when the league’s free-agent market opens.

If the Broncos ultimately decide to trade or release Dumervil, they are expected to give some of his playing time to Robert Ayers, a first-round pick in the 2009 draft, while also pursuing another pass-rushing defensive end in free agency.

Among those who figure to be available on the market come Tuesday are the Bucs’ Michael Bennett, the Giants’ Osi Umenyiora, the Ravens’ Paul Kruger, the Browns’ Juqua Parker, the Colts’ Dwight Freeney, the Chargers’ Antwan Barnes, the Bears’ Israel Idonije and the Falcons’ John Abraham.

Along with their attempt to trim Dumervil’s salary, the Broncos are expected to soon part ways with veteran linebacker D.J. Williams and the $6 million salary he is scheduled to make in 2013.

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.

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